Tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles

Abstract

 A tray (1) for detachable coupling of a container (5) on a rack for motorcycles, comprising: a plurality of elements (7,8,9) for fixing to the bottom of the container (5) that are distributed on its upper surface and bolt-type means, with a lock operated by a key, for coupling and locking to the rack.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles.

[0002] It is an established practice to provide motorcycles with racks (almost always fitted at the rear and so as to protrude with respect to the vehicle) to carry items.

[0003] The solution most commonly used is to fit a specific pannier on the rack: the pannier is preferred because it is provided with a key-operated security lock to protect the contents.

[0004] The pannier can be fitted on the rack of the motorcycle by means of screws or other fastening elements or by means of a latch coupling that is operated by means of a key (generally the same key with which the lock of the pannier is operated).

[0005] The advantage of the second described solution is that it allows the user to choose whether to remove the pannier (and therefore its contents), using it as if it were a carryall case, or remove its contents and leave it fitted on the rack.

[0006] In some situations, the removable pannier also has drawbacks: for carrying bulky items (such as a bag containing sports equipment), it is not possible to resort to the pannier due to its limited capacity and because it is impossible to carry items that exceed its dimensions (for example a tennis racket).

[0007] Many motorcyclists fix the bag directly to the rack of the vehicle with suitable straps, so as to avoid being limited by the reduced volume of the pannier: however, this solution is rather precarious, since one cannot be certain of the stability of the coupling, which also requires rather long times to lock and remove the bag and entails crushing the contents of the bag.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-cited drawbacks and to meet the cited requirements, by providing a tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles by means of which it is possible to carry even large items.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a tray that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation and has a relatively low cost.

[0010] This aim and this and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles, characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of elements for fixing to the bottom of said container that are distributed on its upper surface and, on its lower surface, bolt-type means with a key-operated lock for coupling and locking to said rack.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tray according to the invention, installed on a motorcycle;

Figure 2 is a partially sectional exploded perspective view of a tray according to the invention, coupled to a bag;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a tray according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a front view of a tray according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a tray according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a rear view of a tray according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a rack of a motorcycle suitable for coupling to a tray according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the bolt of a tray according to the invention, in the configuration in which the lock is closed;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the bolt of a tray according to the invention, in the configuration in which the lock is open.

[0012] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a tray for detachable coupling of a container on a rack for motorcycles.

[0013] The motorcycle 2 has a rack 3 that is mounted at the rear in a cantilever fashion; a coupling support 4 can be fixed to said rack by means of screws.

[0014] The tray 1, which constitutes the base of a bag 5, is detachably fixed to the support 4: the bag 5 in fact is provided internally with a panel 6 that is placed on its bottom and is affected by a plurality of holes 7 that have the same distribution as respective protrusions 8 of the tray 1 that are substantially shaped like a hollow cylinder. A screw 9 (generally of the self-tapping type) can be inserted in each hole 7, and its thread engages the cavity of the respective protrusion 8, mutually fastening the panel 6 and the tray 1. Once the screws 7 are tightened, the tray 1 constitutes the base of the bag 5.

[0015] The tray 1 is substantially rectangular and has a plurality of longitudinal and transverse stiffening ribs 10 that are distributed on its surface that is directed toward the bag 5; some of the protrusions 8 are located at the intersections of the ribs, and the tray is delimited perimetrically by a raised rim 11.

[0016] The rim 11 has two contiguous openings designed for the passage of a pushbutton 12 and of a lock 13 operated by a key 14.

[0017] The pushbutton 12 is constituted substantially by a bar that has a variable cross-section (the part that protrudes from the tray 1 has a circular cross-section and the part that lies inside the rim 11 has a square cross-section) and is provided with a groove 15 within which an end 16a of a lever 16 is engaged; the lever 16 is pivoted to the tray 1 about a substantially vertical axis in its central portion.

[0018] The pushbutton 12, by way of the action of a spring 17 that acts axially, is retained so that its surface where the cross-section changes (between the square cross-section and the circular cross-section) rests on the internal surface of the rim 11 of the tray 1 and therefore so that the portion that has a circular cross-section protrudes from the tray 1.

[0019] The lever 16 has a second end 16b provided with a fork that accommodates a pin 18 that protrudes from the head of a slider 19 that can slide axially along a track 20.

[0020] Along its path, the slider 19 passes below a rib 10 where a reinforcement 21 is fitted which is suitable to retain the slider 19 in the correct operating position; in addition to the rib 10, the slider also crosses a compartment 22 for subsequent coupling to the support 4.

[0021] The lever 16 can rotate freely about its own pivoting axis by way of the action of the pushbutton 12 only when the lock 14 is arranged in the open position (Figure 9), in which a plate 23 is spaced from the surface of the lever 16; the lever 16 is instead blocked when the lock is arranged in the closed position (Figure 8), in which the plate 23 rests on a portion of the lever 16.

[0022] In a lower region, the tray 1 has cavities: one of such cavities, in a substantially centered position, is constituted by the coupling compartment 22, and two cavities, on the portion that lies opposite the one where the lock 14 is installed, are constituted by recesses 24 that have an approximately T-shaped cross-section.

[0023] The cavities 22 and 24 are designed for the coupling of the tray 1 to the support 4, which in fact has, proximate to one of its sides, two mushroom-shaped elements 25 that are suitable to slide within the recesses 24, and a selvage 26, in a more centered position, that is suitable to fit within the coupling compartment 22.

[0024] Once the mushroom-shaped elements 25 have engaged in the recesses 24 and the selvage 26 has been inserted in the compartment 22, to fix the tray 1 (and therefore the bag 5) to the support 4 (and therefore to the rack 3 of the motorcycle 2) it is sufficient to slide the slider 19 axially within the selvage 26, locking it.

[0025] The operation of the invention is as follows: the motorcyclist who wishes to carry a bag provided with the tray 1 at its base merely has to rest the tray 1 on the support 4 with the key 14 in the open position and then take care to slide the mushroom-shaped elements 25 into the recesses 24 until they are fully inserted. In this configuration, the selvage 26 is aligned with the compartment 22, in which it can be accommodated.

[0026] In order to allow the selvage 26 to enter the compartment 22, it is necessary to press the pushbutton 12 to produce the retraction of the slider 19, which in the inactive configuration is arranged transversely to the compartment 22.

[0027] Once the selvage 26 has been inserted in the compartment 22, it is possible to release the pushbutton 12, which by way of the action of the spring 17 again protrudes externally from the rim 11 of the tray 1, moving the slider 19 again transversely to the compartment, thus locking the selvage 26.

[0028] Finally, by turning the key 14 into the closed position, the plate 23 of the lock 13 rests on the lever 16, preventing its movement and thus preventing the release of the selvage and the consequent spacing of the tray 1 from the support 4.

[0029] In order to release the bag again, it is necessary to turn the key 14 into the open position, push the pushbutton 12 and first extract the selvage 26 from the compartment 22 and then extract the mushroom-shaped elements 25 from the recesses 24.

[0030] It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intended aim and object.

[0031] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0032] For example, as an alternative to the bag 5 it is possible to use all kinds of container, such as for example carryall cases, rucksacks or particular specific carriers for specific transports. Good design practice suggests the use of containers that have minimal lateral protrusion with respect to the front contour of the motorcycle with the motorcyclist on board, in order to reduce the friction of the container with the air during travel, so as to subject the tray 1, the mushroom-shaped elements 25 and the selvage 26 to the least possible stress.

[0033] Further, the coupling between the tray 1 and the support 4 provided by way of the mushroom-shaped elements 25 and the recesses 24 can be replaced with any other equivalent; in particular, the rim of the tray can have a rear protrusion that is substantially hook-shaped and is suitable to be accommodated within a receptacle formed on a raised rim of the support.

[0034] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

[0035] In the embodiments cited above, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

[0036] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

[0037] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the protective scope of the appended claims.

[0038] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2003A000245 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A tray for detachable coupling of a container (5) on a rack (3) for motorcycles (2), characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of elements (7, 8, 9) for fixing to the bottom of said container (5) that are distributed on its upper surface and, on its lower surface, bolt-type means with a lock (13) operated by a key (14) for coupling and locking to said rack (3).

2. The tray according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises raised lateral rims (11) and a grid of longitudinal and transverse stiffening ribs (10).

3. The tray according to claim 2, characterized in that along one of said lateral rims (11) there is a keyhole for inserting said key (14) in said lock (13).

4. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling means are of the type that provide interlocking by horizontal sliding with respect to said rack (3).

5. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rack (3) has elements (25, 26) for coupling to respective recesses (22, 24) of said tray (1).

6. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that some of said coupling elements (25, 26) are constituted by a selvage (26) of said rack (2) that is suitable to enter a respective recess (22) for accommodating the bottom of said tray (1) and can be coupled thereat by means of said bolt.

7. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bolt is constituted by a pushbutton (12) that can slide axially within a guide of the tray (1) and by a slider (19) that can slide axially within an appropriately provided track (20) that is parallel to said guide, said pushbutton and said slider being mutually associated by a rocker-like lever (16), which is pivoted at the center about a substantially vertical axis and is articulated between the guide and the slider (19), elastic elements (17) being provided for retaining said pushbutton (12) in a protruding position with respect to said tray (1), said pushbutton (12) having a groove (15) to engage an end (16a) of an arm of said lever (16) and said slider (19) having a pin (18) for engaging the opposite fork-like end (16b) of said lever (16).

8. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lock (13) operated by means of a key (14) can be actuated by turning said key (14) from a locked configuration, in which a movable plate (23) thereof is proximate to the end (16a) of the lever (16) that is articulated to said slider (19), preventing its axial movement, to a released configuration, in which said movable plate (23) is spaced from said end (16b) of said lever (16) and from the path of said slider (19).

9. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reinforcement panel (6) is arranged on the bottom of said container (5) and inside it, said panel (6) being coupled to said tray (1) by way of said plurality of fixing elements (7, 8, 9), so as to constitute the base of said container (5).

10. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (5) is a bag.

11. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (5) is a rucksack.

12. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (5) is a carryall case.

13. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (5) is a pannier.

Drawing